Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-07-22
THE GREAT BANK ROBBERY
A Romance Of the Met
ropolis,
Founded upon Notes from tie
Diary OF Inspector DArncs.
by Julian Hawthorne, Author of "Gath, -
etc, etc,
Copyrighted 1857 10y o. NJ. DunhomJ
Continued from last Monday

CONTINUED from last Monday
The other passengers turned in one after
the other until at length all the curtain,
were drawn and everybody seemed to he
asleep, except the night porter, who was
huddled up in his corner, at the far end OF
the car, reading Seaside Library copy ot
jules Verne's Voyage to tie Moon The
detective turned over on his side opened a
crevice of the curtain, and fixed his eye,
meditativclv upon the handle of Mr.. Smith 5
valise, which protruded from under the bed.
The next moment a heavy jolt of tn,
car nearly threw him out of his berth
This was Immediately followed by numbe'
of indescribable leaps jars and plungings
as if the heavy vehicle had suddenly gone
mad and were attempting to dance horn
pipe; at the same time a general confused
cutlery of terror arose from the rudely
awakened passengers. Finally, the floor OF
the car somehow appeared overhead for a
moment, there was a crash of glass and
timbers, another sidelong lurch, and after
that complete immoblity
81 guess there has been an accident
said the detective to himself
No one heard the observation; the chorus
Of shouts, groans and frenzied outcrys,
ling down the embankment, began again
with fresh energy. Among the other noises
were repeated bursts of wild hystcric
laughter proceeding no one knew whence;
it was afterward learned that they came
from the negro porter, who, interrupted
Just as he was on the point of reaching the
moon with Jules Verne, imagined that he
had come into collision with that planet
and was falling in fragments through
space, a condition of things which for the
time being unseated his reason.
Meanwhile the detective rose gingerly to
his feet and endeavored to take stock of
his prediciament. Neither of his legs ap-
peared to be broken; his arms felt and
acted as if they were whole; his ribs spine,
neck and skull all seemed to retain their
continuity; he was forced to the conclusion
that he had actually escaped with no bones
fractured, and even, SO far as he could tell
without a bruise. He next set himself to
finding out where he was He was stand
ing upon something which, on investiga-
ton turned out to be the side of the car, or
rather the place where a window had for
merly been. In this position the floor of
the car rose like "A wall i'll front of him,
the ceiling behind while the divisions of the
sections inclosed him on the right and left,
Around his feet was a quantity of promis-
cuous bedding and other rubbish.
81 wonder if am in my berth " in some
body ese's,' said he
He felt in his waistcoat pocket, and found
there was box of wax vestas. These yes
tas We're about two inches long, aud would
burn for five minutes. He lit one, and
hunted for the number of the section
which he presently discovered No, it was
&c, IL
Der and therefore on the side of the car OPP
posite to his own And by the way" he
exclaimed suddenly, Its Mr.. Smith mum
Der! I've fallen into his BERTH
"This discovery affected him oddly, aS if
he were the chosen instrument OF fate.
A coat was dangling from a hook in
front of him. He thrust his hand into the
inside breast pocket and pulled ont IA wallet
and quantity of papers. Some of the lat
ter bore Mr.. Smith name upon them Sit
ting down on the broken window he rapidly
looked them over. The United States
bond was not among them, nor was it in
the wallet
He put the things back in the pocket and
reflected His reflections We're cut short 10y
the flame of the vesta, which had burned
down to his fingers. He blew it out, and
drawing himself up by the partition looked
down the aisle of the car There was dark
ness, tumult and confusion everywhere, and
no sign of Mr.. Smith 1t occurred to the
detective that this gentleman might have
been killed; but the idea gave him no pleas
ure, either personally or professionally
Mr.. Smith had shown himself an agreeable
fellow, and he probably possessed some
knowledge which the detective would have
liked to share. Sitting on the edge of the
partition the detective lit another vesta and
looked about him. At length he cast his
eyes directly in front of him, and there still
wedged underneath the bed, was the valise
probably the only article in the car which
had not been dislodged during the smash
up. He reached forward and with Wig
orous jerk succeeded in getting it out. Tn,
key was still in the lock. Mr.. Sn it after
taking out his nightgown,I having forgotten
to replace it in his pocket.
The detective clambered down to HI,
former position, sat down and opened tn,
valise, 1t contained II change of linen.
pair of trousers pair of slippers and Other
odds and ends of IA gentleman travelling
wardrobe. There was not a scrap of paper
of any kind in it. The detective closed tn,
bag, locked it and sighed, What was tn,
use of a railway accident and of his falin!
find the bond after all? He was about t,
start ON an expedition i'll search Of Mr.
Smith when the voice of that gentleman
himself salutcd his ears and looking up
he saw head peering round the corner o
the adjoining section.
Can you tell me- sir" the head in
quired, "where | can find section No. o.
This is No. 9, DO you belong here"
Il believe so. got bump on my hea,
when fell out, and don't know what han
pened after that I'm a little mixed Ar
my clothes there>'
There are some clothes hanging to
peg; and there's a valSe.n
The head gave grunt, and there was
noise of scratching AM scrambling, follow
I'D by the projection Of Mr.. Smiths entir
body into the berth He still wore his nigh
gown, but his red silk night cap was gon
and there was n confusion on his bald hea
rs big as an od-fashioned silver watch
He was evidently somewhat dazed and di2
~, and after standing unsteadily for
moment he Squatted down upon "A heap q